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PREFACE 



This little pamphlet is the out- 
growth of an efifort to study briefly 
our own local history in connection 
with the regular History and Civics 
work of the High School. The sug- 
gestion was made that a committee 
be appointed by the senior class of 
1913 from among its membership to 
gather material relating to the history 
of Switzerland County and report 
to the class. 

As the plans for the celebration of 
our one hundredth anniversary ma- 
tured, the purpose of the pupils in 
arranging this brief history broadened 
somewhat. The committee conceived 
the idea that while they were being 
helped by the efifort involved they 
might produce a work that would be 
a fitting souvenir for the Centennial 
Celebration to be held during the 
week of August 18-24, 1913. 

No doubt many errors and imper- 
fections will be found in this little 
book — imperfections in language, 
probably inaccurate statements and 
overlapping of material. It is hoped 
and believed, however, that the reader 



will look beyond these faults, what- 
ever they may be, and see the zeal, 
the sincerity and pleasure of the boys 
and girls in preparing this v/ork. 

The following committee gathered 
and arranged all of the material: 
Harold Curry, Elizabeth Porter, Perle 
Johnson, Eugene Scudder and Elmer 
Brown. They were greatly aided by 
many of the high school pupils and 
especially by the children from the 
sixth, seventh and eighth grades. An 
efifort has been made throughout the 
pages to indicate the source of the 
data, by marginal references. Ack- 
nowledgment should be made here to 
The History of Switzerland, Dearborn 
And Ohio Counties, to Miss Julia L. 
Knox for an article written by her a 
few years ago and appearing in the 
"Indianian," to the local newspapers 
and to the "History of Indiana and 
Its People" by Robert J. and Max 
Aley, and to Mrs. S. O'N. Pleasants. 
All of these have been helpful to the 
pupils. 

RALPH X. TIREY, Supt. of Schools, 
Vevay Indiana, July 28, 1913. 



HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY 



CHAPTER I. 
Geographical Factors. 

In the latter part of the eighteenth 
century when the extent of the vast 
North American territory began to be 
realized by our forefathers, growth in 
the East was checked for a time while 
men with their families made a mad 
rush for the West. 

Had it not been for the persever- 
ance of our sturdy ancestors they 
might never have reached this side of 
the Allegheny Mountains, but they 
were dauntless and after many hard- 
ships were able to reach Pittsburg 
whence the way was practically easy 
down rivers on boats or rafts, accord- 
ing to their financial condition, and 
across the intervening land in large 
canvas covered wagons drawn by 
horses or oxen. 

After the settlement of Cincinnati, 
immigration moved southward reach- 
ing Lawrenceburg in 1795. A year 
later the first settlers set foot on 
Switzerland county soil. 

The fertile river valley, guarded 
from winds and storms by the majes- 
tic hills, attracted Heathcoat Pickett 
to make a home near Vevay where 
he was soon joined by other progress- 
ive colonists. 

(Notes of Perret Dufour) 

As the rainfall was not regular, our 
forefathers were obliged to resort to 
their "water wands" which consisted 
of a forked peach limb that inclined 
toward the ground where water was 
supposed to be found. 

(History of Three Counties) 

Early settlers were also influenced 
to make their homes in this part of 
the country on account of the heavy 
timber which covered the land out of 
which they built substantial homes 
and stockades against the Indians 
and wild beasts which at first proved 



hostile to the white men. Among the 
latter mentioned were deer, bear and 
wolves which in savage fierceness 
howled over the carcass of their latest 
victims — the fox, panther and racoon. 
The ground hog's shrill whistle might 
also be heard in these woods while 
wild turkeys and native song birds 
added to the natural atmosphere of 
Switzerland county. 

They also were anxious to settle 
where they could ship their products 
out easily and the Ohio river afforded 
this possibility. Heathcoat Pickett's 
first flat-boat was the beginning of 
river traffic in this section. 



CHAPTER II. 

Early Settlers and Settlements 

(History of Indiana) 
History is nothing more nor less than 
a record of past events and that of 
Indiana began July 4, 1800, but many 
settlements were made however as 
early as the first half of the eighteenth 
century, the first one being at Ouiata- 
non, on the Wabash river about 1720. 

Many more settlements were made 
and finally some were made in Swit- 
zerland county. 

(History of Three Counties) 

A colony of Swiss settlers crossed 
the Allegheny Mountains, and coming 
down the river made settlements 
along the banks of the Ohio. They 
made their first settletnent at Law- 
renceburg but were not content to 
settle permanently until they reached 
the beautiful hills of "New Switzer- 
land!" Gradually they pushed their 
way down the river and made some 
settlements in Switzerland county. 
(Material brought by Paul Coleman) 

The first one in this county of which 
any record can be found was made by 
Heathcoat Pickett in the year 1795; 
he erected a cabin about three miles 




SWITZERLAND COUNTY COURT HOUSE 




'HORSESHOE BEND" JUST BACK OF VEVAY 







AUNT LUCY DETRAZ 

The First White Child Born In Switzerland County 
Born October I 1, 1806— Died May 18, 1903 



HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY 



from Vevay near Plum Creek, and 
lived there many years. 

(Paul Coleman and Mabel Brindley) 
The family consisted of the father, 
mother, two sons and one daughter. 
They endured many privations and 
often narrowly escaped the toma- 
hawks or scalping knives of the Ind- 
ians. The country was very wild at 
that time and there were wild animals 
as well as wild Indians. 

Mr. Pickett made the first flat-boat 
on which he made twenty trips to 
New Orleans, and as he was a good 
pedestrian he walked back after sell- 
ing his boat each time. 

(Dorothy Campbell) 
In 1798 the Cotton and Dickason 
families came to this section of the 
country and settled on Indian Creek, 
a few miles back of the Ohio river. 

(Merriam Protsman) 
William Cotton lived in a large 
sycamore tree until his cabin was 
built. He took an active part in the 
politics of Indiana and was the first 
Justice of the Peace. He received his 
appointment from General Harrison, 
then Governor of the territory. 

In 1814 he was made Associate 
Judge and in 1816 was a delegate to 
the Constitutional Convention which 
famed the constitution of Indiana. He 
was a member of the first Senate af- 
ter this state was admitted to the 
Union. 

(Irene Babcock) 
John Rayl, another settler, came here 
in 1798. He settled at the foot of the 
Vevay Island. 

In 1799 Robert Gullion settled in 
the Ohio river bottom along the 
mouth of Log Lick creek. 
(Harold Curry) 
In the following year an act of con- 
gress afifected the settlement of Ve- 
vay. This act stated that anyone 



who would settle in the Ohio Valley 
and spend his time cultivating grapes 
would be given the tract of land be- 
tween which is now Plum and Indian 
Creek. The Swiss took advantage of 
this opportunity and began the culti- 
vation of grapes. In their own coun- 
try the grapes thrived better on the 
hillside, so they decided to make the 
little valley in which Vevay is now 
situated look like their own home 
town of Vevey, Switzerland, by clear- 
ing the hills and leaving the valuable 
timber of stately poplar, beech and 
walnut. 

This group of Swiss settlers came 
from the Canton Dewaird in Old 
Switzerland where Vevey is the chief 
city. Among the families were the 
Mennets, Bettens and Morerods. Soon 
the Schencks and Thiebauds came, 
and later the Gaudins. 

(Mabel Brindley) 
Another family among these was 
that of John James Dufour. They 
had located in the big bend of the 
Kentucky river, a place chosen by Mr. 
Dufour in the spring of 1796 \vhen he 
first came to this country. 

(Lillian Gleason) 

In 1802 they made preparations for 
a settlement in this country by clear- 
ing the land. In 1813 the first house 
was put up by Samuel Butler and his 
family. 

In the same spring Joshua Jones 
floated a set of house logs from 
Grants Creek and built a house on the 
lots now owned by James Bristow 

(Anonymous) 

In ISIG the Detraz family came to 
Vevay. Only a short time after his 
arrival Mr. Detraz was drowned while 
bathing in the river. His bodj' was 
found at Madison and interred there. 

About this time Frederick L. Gris- 
ard Sr. came with his brother-in-law 



HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY 



and settled below Indian Creek. He 
was a blacksmith for several years. 
When his son-in-law who was a shoe- 
maker, moved to Louisville, Mr. 
Grisard came to Vevay. 

(Lillian Gleason) 

In 1817 John James Phillip Schenck 
with his wife and son, Ulysses P., 
came here and settled on a farm on 
the hill back of Vevay, the Thiebaud 
farm. Mr. Schenck was a tinner by 
trade and as there were no tinners 
in Vevay he did all the mending of 
tinware and also making of new uten- 
sils. He came to town once or twice 
a week and got together all of the 
tinware to be mended. 

His son commenced business at 
Louisville and stayed there until 1837. 

(Dorothy Campbell) 
In 1817, what is known as the 
Dutch settlement was made in Pleas- 
ant township. A few years later they 
supplied Vevay with butter, eggs and 
chickens during the summer, and 
pork, venison, oats, wheat and flax 
in winter. They organized a church 
soon after they came and built a log 
meeting house. 

Some Scotch people settled back of 
what is now Moorefield, among whom 
were the Dows, Taits and Aliens. 

(Mabel Brindley) 
In 1817, 1818 and 1820 several famil- 
ies settled on Long Run. Among 
them were Neil McCallum, John Mc- 
Callum, Donald Cowan and the Mal- 
comsons. These people were Seven- 
day Baptists and always held Satur- 
day as their sacred day. 

(Court House) 

Lamb was settled by an Irishman 
whose name was Macintyre. He 
called the place Erin. 

Florence was called Little York, 
after New York, which was a thriving 
city at this time. It was surveyed by 



Benjamin Drake in the year 1816. 

The population at this time was less 
than seventy. Some of the most 
prominent citizens were William Cam- 
bell, John Drake, John Gibson, Geo. 
Hutchins and Martin Adkins. 

(Court House) 
Patriot was named after "Troy." 
This town, Florence, Center Square 
and Vevay contended for the honors 
of being the county seat. Center 
Square was originally intended for the 
county seat, but finally it was settled 
by a vote of the people and Vevay 
came out victorious. 

CHAPTER IIL 

Pioneer Life. 

In discussing the life of the early 
settlers of Switzerland county, one 
must remember the proverb "that 
there must be pioneers" in everything. 

Some one has to overcome the ob- 
stacles that the following generations 
may enjoy the life laid out for them 
by their forefathers. 

Going back to the earliest time in 
our local history, we find that the 
pioneers came from the eastern and 
southern states. These large, hardy, 
industrious settlers whose manner and 
speech were so unpolished but whose 
hearts were so warm, did not realize 
what foundation they were laying 
for the future Switzerland county. 

After landing and selecting a place 
for his home, the pioneer had to live 
the best he could until the house was 
built. Among the early settlers who 
experienced such hardships was Will- 
iam Cotton, who crossed the river 
from Kentucky in 1798 and while 
erecting his log cabin, lived in a syca- 
more tree on Indian Creek. 

A few of the old log cabins that 
were built at the settling of the coun- 
ty are still standing. These were 



HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY 



quaint houses built of hewn logs and 
roofed with clapboards, standing like 
monuments to commemorate the pio- 
neer times. 

When a house was being built all 
the settlers would help in the "house 
raising" and the builder to show his 
gratitude, helped his neighbors in the 
vicinity in return. 

The household and kitchen furni- 
ture at that time was verj^ crude. The 
gourd, the wooden bucket, heavy cop- 
per kettles and pewter knives and 
forks composed the kitchen utensils. 
The beds were made by stretching 
skins over poles. The chairs and ta- 
bles w-ere made by sawing blocks ofi 
of logs and putting legs on them. 

In some instances when the family 
was "well oflf" the heavy walnut furni- 
ture w^as brought from the mother 
country. They cooked over a large 
fire place which was kept ever burn- 
ing by the roaring back logs. 

Their dress w^as made from tanned 
skins sewed together by the sinews 
of animals. The pioneer in this odd 
looking suit was just as happy as the 
society man in his full dress suit. 

The pioneer planted and harvested 
his crops of corn, wheat, potatoes and 
flax in the summer time and extended 
his clearings in the winter. There 
was a great rivalry in the raising of 
crops between the settlers. The story 
is told of the contest between Hiram 
Ogle and Mr. Dickason in the raising 
of corn. It seems that Mr. Dickason 
had been growing more corn than Mr. 
Ogle and the agreement was made 
that neither was to shave until he had 
harvested more corn than the other. 
One autumn day Ogle was in town 
and was asked: "Mr. Ogle, who 
raised the most corn this season? 
"I did," Ogle replied. "Don't you see 
I have shaved?" 

The women were equally brave and 
self-sacrificing. They became so ac- 



customed to being exposed to the dan- 
gers of wild beasts and Indians that 
the sense of security would almot 
have made them lonesome. They not 
only performed their own household 
duties, but spun the wool and tlax, 
wove the cloth and did the family 
sewing, tailoring and knitting. The 
food consisted of potato cake, corn- 
bread and wild game. CoflEee was a 
rare article indeed. The story is 
told in the notes of Perret Dufour, 
that coffee was used only on Sundays 
On other days the family was only 
permitted to smell the sack, because 
of the cost. 

Our forefathers had many prevail- 
ing forms of recreation, such as house 
raisings, dances, quiltings, sleigh and 
hay rides, corn cuttings and apple 
peelings. All of these forms of diver- 
sion are more or less kept up by the 
descendants of the early settlers. 
Edward Eggleston in his books de- 
scribing the traits of the Hoosiers, 
gives to the natives of Switzerland 
county many fond pictures of early 
sports, such as "Three Hole Cat," 
"Black Man" and "Hat Ball.". 

The first school taught was by 
Lucien Gex, the only study being 
French. Nathan Peak was the next, 
teaching on the farm owned by Wm. 
R. Protsman. James Rouse taught 
school in a log cabin on Ferrj^ street 
near w^here the Russell homestead 
stood. A great many children of the 
early settlers of New Switzerland 
■went to school in the house on lower 
]\Iain street. This building is of brick 
and is still standing. In the early 
schools the furnture was equally as 
crude as that of the household. The 
benches were made by splitting a log 
in half and fastening legs on it. The 
teacher was well versed in the art of 
using the rod and the three R's — 
"Readin', Ritin' and Rithmetic." The 
pupils generall}' commenced school 



HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY 



after finishing the "fall work" and 
quit at the beginning of the "spring 
ploughing." 

The churches were made on the 
same principle as the schools. In 
some localities the buildings answered 
the same purpose. The preacher gen- 
erally had a number of appointments 
to make. He usually rode horse- 
back and was a very welcome guest 
on account of the news he brought 
from neighboring places 

(Irene Dufour.) 

The people of Switzerland county 
have had many strange customs. 
Among them is the reading of the 
ninetieth Psalm at the death of any 
member of the Dufour family or their 
descendants, and the Mardi Gras on 
New Years eve. 

When the first band of Swiss start- 
ed for this country the father of the 
Dufour family being unable to come 
with them on account of his extreme 
age, read the ninetieth Psalm and ask- 
ed them to read this at the death of 
any of the family if a preacher could 
not be procured. This custom is still 
practiced by those living of the Du- 
four family. 

Switzerland has one custom which 
we are proud to say is not practiced 
by any other country, and that is the 
"Mardi Gras." On New Years eve 
the inhabitants meet on the streets 
of Vevay and parade, dressed in all 
kinds of grotesque costumes. We are 
unable to find where we got this pe- 
culiar form of amusement. 

In speaking of the queer things con- 
nected with the history of the county, 
one must not forget the first wills re- 
corded in the Court House. Among 
these is the will of Jean Daniel More- 
rod. This will is very unique on ac- 
count of his belief in burial. He re- 
quests that he be "buried in a pine box 
the cost of which is not to exceed 



one dollar and a half." The differ- 
ence between the cost of the modern 
burial and his was to be invested 
in the best wine to be served out to 
those who found it to their benefit to 
attend his funeral. It is needless to 
say that there was a large attendance. 
If one could shut his eyes and imag- 
ine he was back in those good old pio- 
neer days, he would be astonished at 
the change that has taken place be- 
tween 1813 and 1913. 

Instead of the modern house of to- 
day he would see the quaint old log 
cabin with its rock chimneys and clap- 
board roof. The ox cart would look 
like a relic of barbarism when placed 
beside the large six-cylinder autos of 
today. The deer-skin clothing is now 
replaced by the fine clothes of the 
modern tailor. Instead of the farmer 
using the hand-rake, scythe and cradle 
to harvest his grain and hay, he has 
the modern binder, mowing machine 
riding rake and plough. The old fash- 
ioned corduroy roads have given way 
to the splendid "metal pikes" for which 
Switzerland county is noted. 

Judging from the progress made 
from 1813 to 1913 one can hardly pre- 
dict what will be the conditions of life 
in another hundred years. 

Switzerland county is better adapt- 
ed to agricultural pursuits than to any 
other industry. She was the leading 
hay cotmty of the union at the time 
when the farmer labored with his 
hands only. The future prospects are 
bright because the people have ceased 
to depend on hard work alone, but 
have combined it with science to save 
labor and insure better results. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Modes of Travel. 

The early inhabitants had many 
more difiiculties to overcome in their 
traveling than we do today. Although 



HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY 



our modes of travel and transporta- 
tion are none too good, they far ex- 
cel those of that time. 

The Indians traveled on foot and 
in canoes and dugouts. As birch bark 
for making canoes could not be ob- 
tained here, they sent either East or 
North for it, or else made them 
of hickory bark or elm bark, turned 
inside out. The dug-outs were made 
from trunks of large trees hollowed 
out by burning or chopping. 

The white settlers upon their arrival 
brought with them horses and intro- 
duced the flat-boat. They used about 
the same overland trails as the abo- 
rigines. Along these the produce was 
carried on horseback to the creeks or 
the Ohio river, where it was loaded 
on flat-boats and taken to New Or- 
leans. These boats, as the name im- 
plies, were large and flat and were 
shaped like scows, sometimes having 
a shed over the center. They were 
propelled by side oars and guided by 
a long steering oar at the stern. The 
boats could not be made to move 
very swiftly and it has often been said 
that they managed to keep up with 
the current going down stream. Upon 
the arrival at New Orleans, the pro- 
duct was sold and supplies for the 
neighborhood were bought. These 
were either taken back in the flat-boat 
which was cordelled up the river or 
the flat-boat was sold and they were 
taken up in row boats. When no pro- 
visions were to be bought the boat 
was sold and the merchant walked 
back. 

It took about eight or ten weeks 
to make the trip. On the down trip 
the load consisted of corn, cattle, 
horses, pork, venison, hickory nuts, 
and walnuts and required almost a 
month to make it. The return trip 
took about four weeks. The load 



consisted of sugar, tobacco, rice and 
dry goods. 

After while, lines of flat boats were 
established by companies which made 
regular trips up and down the river. 
They carried not only produce, but 
also passengers. 

The coming of the steamboat was 
a great event. The first one that 
passed down the river was in 1811. 
It was built at Pittsburg by a relative 
of ex-President Roosevelt and made 
the trip in fourteen days. Another 
early steamboat was the "Orleans" 
which passed along in 1812. This was 
built at Pittsburg by Fulton and Liv- 
ingston. It was furnished with two 
masts and a stern propelling wheel. 
Her capacity was one hundred tons. 
Some of the other boats were the 
"Comet" a vessel rated at twenty-five 
tons which passed in 1812, the "Ve- 
suvius" in 1814 and the "Enterprise" 
a vessel of seventy-five tons in the 
same year. 

In "ISIG the "Washington" a boat 
of a different type passed. She had 
two decks where the others had only 
one and her boilers were placed on 
deck instead of in the hold. The 
"Washington" was the first steamboat 
to make the return trip. With her 
return trip historians date the beginn- 
ing of steam navigation in the West. 

Although the steamboat was the 
fastest way of traveling and mucn 
safer from the attacks of the Indians, 
it had its own perils. Probably one 
of the worst accidents which happened 
along the Ohio river was the burning 
of the "America" and the "United 
States." The "America" was making 
an excursion trip down the river; on 
board were many passengers, mostly 
women and children. They were 
dancing and the pilot, who enjoyed 
this pastime, had left the boat in 
charge of a young man who was an 



8 



HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY 



inexperienced pilot, but in whom he 
had great contidence. Between elev- 
en and twelve o'clock at night when 
but a short distance above Florence, 
Switzerland county, the United States 
steamed around the bend. The pilot 
on the America became excited and 
getting his signals mixed, held to 
the right instead of the left as he had 
signalled. A collision could not be 
avoided and the crash came. 

On board the United States was 
about six hundred barrels of kerosene 
and gasoline. In some way this 
caught fire and before the boats could 
be separated both were in flames. 
The people ran to the back end of the 
America and as the fire came closer 
they jumped into the river. Many 
were drowned, and those who reached 
the shore were taken to the home of 
Mr. Rayl where they were cared for 
until their friends or relatives came 
for them. This accident caused laws 
to be passed which secured better 
pilots and made it unlawful to carry 
certain explosives on a passenger 
boat. 

While improvements were going on 
in regard to traveling by water, the 
improvement of land routes was not 
neglected. The trails were widened 
so oxcarts and stage coaches could 
pass through. The oxcart took the 
place of horses to a great extent in 
the transportation of produce or mer- 
chandise. 

The lawyers, doctors, preachers and 
other men who were compelled to 
travel about a great deal, rode on 
horseback. The invariable outfit of 
such a traveller was a pair of saddle 
bags used for carrying his wardrobe 
and papers. He wore a pair of heavy 
leggings made of green baize cloth 
and in wintry weather a buffalo over- 
coat. 

Horses gradually took the place of 



oxen for hauling produce and doing 
all other kinds of work and the road 
wagon replaced the oxcart. 

At this time the roads were owned 
by companies and as they charged toll 
for the use of them, w;ere known as 
toll roads. 

The road wagon as a means of trav- 
eling was much better than riding on 
horseback. Perhaps Mr. Riley, our 
"Hoosier" poet best represents the 
people's appreciation of the road 
wagon in the following lines: 

"Of the times when first we settled 
here, and travel was so bad. 

When we had to go on horseback and 
sometimes on Shank's mare; 

And "blaze" a road fer them behind 
that had to travel there. 

And now we go a trotten long a level 
gravel pike, 

In a big two-horse road-wagon, jest 
as easy as yo like: 

Two of us on the front seat, and our 
wimmen folks behind, 

A settin in theyr Winsor churs in per- 
fect peace of mind." 

The toll house with its 'pole and 
sweep" has disappeared, all the roads 
being owned by the county. 

The spring wagon which largelj' re- 
placed the "two-hoss road wagon" 
with its jolly crowd, is almost a thing 
of the past and we now have the bug- 
gy and the automobile as our chief 
means of traveling. 

Our county, we regret to say is a 
little behind oUr sister counties in her 
mode of inland travel as we have 
neither the steam railroad nor inter- 
urban lines. Our nearest approach is 
the present auto bus lines which con- 
nect with the nearest railroad points. 

We have now traced the modes of 
traveling through the many years since 
the settlement of our county, begin- 
ning with the canoe, dugout and ox- 



HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY 



cart and ending with the modern 
steamboat and automobile. We feel 
glad that we live at the present time 
with all its modern improvements in- 
stead of in that early period when 
Indian and beast were to be con- 
tended with. 



CHAPTER V . 

Famous Men and Women of Switzer- 
land County. 

No history of Switzerland county 
would be complete without mention- 
ing some of her distinguished sons and 
daughters. Since it would be an end- 
less task to mention all of her worthy 
men and women, we will take only 
the deserving ones who have passed 
away into the home of everlasting 
tribute. 

(Notes of Hon. B. S. Barker.) 
Mrs. Julia L. Dumonnt ranks among 
the first of Indiana's early educators 
because of her never failing ability as 
a schoolmistress. While yet in her 
youth she established the first school 
in Vevay, and this proving a success, 
she found time to wield a graceful 
pen, and her poems and essays were 
widely published at the time. "She 
is entitled to be called the mother of 
Indiana's educational advance as well 
as of Indiana's literature," says Mr. 
Parker. Her first home and school- 
house are still standing and may be 
seen by sightseers who visit our little 
city. One of the most prominent 
literary clubs in Vevay has honored 
this "Mother of Literature" by nam- 
ing their society the "Julia L. Dumont 
Club." 

(Jane E. Zimmerman, a sister of 
Edward Eggleston.) 

Perhaps Vevay's most boasted writ- 
er is Edward Eggleston, whose Main 
street home still remains a place of 



interest to visitors. His "Hoosier 
Schoolboy," "The Circuit Rider" and 
others of his works are well known 
all over the country, and although 
some of the characters have passed 
away, a number of them live in and 
near Vevay. His first school days 
were not creditable but after he 
reached the age of ten years he was 
unexcelled in his studies. He spent 
some time in Minnesota where he was 
obliged to go for his health and was 
much benefitted by "roughing it." 

(Reveille 1893 — Notes of Vevay.) 

Upon his return he traveled in Indi- 
ana as a junior preacher. He was a 
great Sunday School worker and 
never lost interest in his church — the 
Methodist. Besides his Indiana stor- 
ies he published a "History of the 
United States," The Transit of Civi- 
lization," Tales of his life in New 
York, and others of interest. 

(Home Monthly '98 Waldo F. Brown) 

"Aunt Lucy Detraz," as she was 
called by our townspeople, was one 
of the earliest inhabitants of Vevay, 
and perhaps the longest lived. She 
obtained the best of her education in 
Louisville, Ky., where she attended 
school for a period of eight months. 
She was interesting and cheerful, a 
great worker in the Presbyterian 
church of which she was a devoted 
member. The author can remember 
her telling of how she and her parents 
were obliged to hide from the Indians 
many times, and how, when the red- 
skins found .'that the family could 
speak French, they pledged them- 
selves to be lifelong friends. "Aunt 
Lucy" figures prominently in Eggles- 
ton's "Roxy" and nowhere else is her 
character so truly depicted. 

She lived to be ninety years old 
and retained all of her faculties to the 



10 



HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY 



last, although her hearing was slight- 
ly defective. 

Space does not permit even the 
slightest reference to the many men 
and women who have gone out from 
our peaceful little city and made some 
valuable contribution to society. We 
shall have to satisfy ourselves in 
bringing this chapter to a close 
with the thought that Switzerland 
County is yearly turning over to so- 
ciety at large men and women who 
are helping to solve the great prob- 
lems of the day in all fields of 
endeavor. 



CHAPTER VI. 
CITY OF VEVAY. 

The history of the County Seat of 
Switzerland County is connected with 
many legends and stories concerning 
the beauty of its environment. Situ- 
ated as it is among the vine clad hills 
on the banks of the beautiful Ohio, 
whose waters flow serenely froin the 
Allegheny mountains to the Gulf of 
Mexico, it has a location envied by 
many towns and cities in the United 
States. Its scenery is excelled by only 
a few places in this country. To us 
it is common; we who live here do 
not appreciate its beauties, while the 
visitors are struck by the picturesque- 
ness of the country surrounding us. 

One hundred years ago the pioneers 
from Switzerland, that sturdy little re- 
public across the sea, came here and 
founded what was to be a new Vevay 
in a new Switzerland. This year we 
celebrate the anniversary of this 
founding, and remember with pride 
swelling our hearts, the hardships 
these people endured that they might 
find a home beneath the clear heavens 
where they could cultivate their vine- 
yards and make from the grapes the 
wine for which they are justly famous. 



When the question of a county seat 
for Switzerland County came up, there 
were four applicants; namely, Vevay, 
Little York (Florence), Troj^ (Pat- 
riot), and Center Square. The last 
named being nearer the center of the 
county, was seriously considered for a 
time, the people of that place going 
so far as to lay it out as such and to 
get the ground in shape. Finally, it 
was decided to make Vevay the capi- 
tol of the County. As we do not 
know the minds of our forefathers, we 
cannot say why Vevay was selected, 
but if we were to hazard a guess we 
would say because of the geographic- 
al location and consequently better fa- 
cilities for transportation and better 
opportunities for people to come and 
go. So much for the beginning of Ve- 
vay. Now let us look for a short 
time upon her progress, both material 
and social. 

About the first public buildings 
erected here were the taverns, kept by 
Thomas Armstrong, Phillip Averil, 
William Cooper, Samuel Fallis and 
others. Under the law of the time 
anyone desiring to sell liquor in small 
quantities had to sign a contract guar- 
anteeing to have so much stable room 
and so many beds — a queer law judged 
by present standards. 

In 1814 Bazilla Clark came to Ve- 
vay and established a nail factory at 
the northwest corner of I\Iain and 
Walnut Streets. The machinery was 
run by the then modern method of 
horse power. The nails when made 
sold for 2.5 cents per pound. 

The first brick building put up in 
Vevay was the Court House. Begun 
in 181.") and finished for the October 
term of court in 181G. 

The present Court House was com- 
pleted in October, 1864. The bids for 
its construction were as follows: Tem- 
perly and Woodfield, $31,000; Haw 



HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY 



11 



thorne, Melcher & Eblin, $28,000; Jos- 
eph Peelman, $28,000; Samuel Coplin- 
ger $28,952; John Ha!y, 26,132.40. The 
contract was given to Haly by J. R. 
Harris, William Anderson and Luther 
Hotchkiss, who were commissioners 
and was entered by H. .W Gordon 
who was Auditor, September 22, 1863. 
The old Court House was sold to 
Haly for $200. The total cost of the 
construction was $29,724.90. The pres- 
ent County Jail was begun in 1853 and 
finished in 1855. Joseph Peelman 
was awarded the contract by Jacob 
Shull, J. S. Ferguson and John Weav- 
er, commissioners at the time. It 
cost $8,675 and is 20 x 37 feet, built of 
good brick. 

The early settlers did not forget 
the educational side of life. As early 
as 1810 Lucien Gex had a school near 
Vevay where he taught French only. 
In 1814-15 Mrs. Julia L. Dumont 
taught here. By her essays, editorials 
and poems she became the pioneer 
champion of better education in this 
county and state. She not only 
taught what could be found in books, 
but also helped her pupils in the up- 
building of character. 

After Vevay was laid out, two sec- 
tions belonged to the "Vevay Semi- 
nary" which stood where the National 
Bank now stands. In 1811-12 a man 
named Buchute came here and taught 
a grammar school. Being of a poetic 
turn of mind, he wrote the "Empire 
of Bacchus" in Latin. This was the 
first poem ever written in this coun- 
ty. 

In 1873 the Legislature of Indiana 
passed a law requiring the trustees to 
appoint a County Superintendent, 
whose duty it was to care for the 
schools and see to their improvement. 
Many able minded men have filled this 
office. Since its establishment it has 



changed from an appointive to an el- 
ective office. 

In early times teachers were good 
and the enrollment was large, as is 
shown by the report of the State Su- 
perintendent for years 1883-84: 

"There are 77 buildings pertaining 
to education and valued at $69,543, 
having an enrollment of 4,467 with an 
average daily attendance of 2,115 and 
only 26 per cent of all the children 
of the county are enrolled. 

This record is one to be proud of, 
because, taking into consideration the 
hardships the pioneer children had to 
endure, it is remarkable that such a 
large percentage attended. 

Today we have better buildings and 
books. Teachers now are more effic- 
ient than those years ago, but they 
could not be more willing to help edu- 
cate the coming generation than those 
early forerunners who braved the 
dangers of a frontier life to give the 
boys and girls an education. Since 
that time Indiana has made wonderful 
strides in education and today we are 
proud to say she ranks among the 
first in the United States. 

The zeal for religion was never al- 
lowed to flag by our Swiss ancestors. 
Before the church was established, 
Daniel Dufour read a chapter from 
the Bible and preached a short ser- 
mon to them each Sunday. The first 
Sunday School, which was the pre- 
lude to the religious sects here, was 
started in 1817 and kept up until all 
the different churches had separate 
Schools. 

The Presbyterian was the first or- 
ganized church in Vevay. On Janu- 
ary 28, 1828, the people favorable to 
this sect founded a church here by 
popular subscription — the amount be- 
ing $270. Daniel V. Dufour gave them 
the lot on which the present church 
stannds. They worshipped in their 



12 



HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY 



old building until 1837 when the struc- 
ture was considered unsafe and torn 
down. From this time until 1844, 
they had no church. In 1844 they re- 
organized and the present building 
was erected. 

The Methodist church was organ- 
ized in 1816 by Rev. Allen Wiley and 
Russel Bigelow — these ministers be- 
longing to the Lawrenceburg circuit. 
In 1823-23 it was reorganized and or- 
dained as a station. In 1837 a brick 
church was erected where the present 
Ruter Chapel stands. Previous to this 
their meetings were held in the old 
Presbyterian church. In 1858 the 
present building was erected and dedi- 
cated by the Rev. Thomas Bowman. 

The Baptist church of Switzerland 
county was organized in 1833. Air. 
Dufour gave them a lot and a build- 
ing was erected. Here the Baptists 
v/orshipped until 1873 when they occu- 
pied the imposing edifice which stands 
on the corner of Main Cross and Pike 
streets. 

The Universalist church was found- 
ed January 1, 1852. In 1862 they 
built a building next to the Odd Fel- 
lows Hall. The church now belong- 
ing to this sect is of comparatively 
recent construction. 

The Christian church was organized 
in 1842 by Rev. John M. Holton. 
Their first meeting was held in the 
Court House. In 1882 the old Bap- 
tist church building was bought and 
furnished for them by J. W. Wright. 

The Catholic church dates back to 
1854. The first member was Mrs. S. 
Pleasants, Father Shaw being the 
priest. Frank Dufour and wife unit- 
ed with the church in 1857 and a 
chapel was erected at his house. In 
1862 they rented a room in Perret Du- 
four's building and worshipped here 



until their present church was built 
in 1875. 

Many old fashioned revivals were 
held in the early history of our town, 
but space permits only a slight men- 
tion. The principal evangelist, Loren- 
zo Dow, came here many times and 
exciting incidents are recorded. He 
preached where the old chair factory 
stood. One day while preaching he 
heard whispering among his congre- 
gation and desired to know who the 
offender was. He was told that it 
was some one translating the sermon 
to a young Swiss who did not under- 
stand his English. This appeared to 
him to be sufficient excuse for whis- 
pering so he went on with his sermon 
which was only two hours long — at 
that time considered short. How the 
times have changed. 

The newspapers of the county from 
the first issue of the "Indiana Regis- 
ter" in 1816 down to the present time, 
have played an important part in 
shaping the destinies of the county. 
William C. Keen came here in 1815 
and one year later started the publica- 
tion of the "Indiana Register". It 
was published by various editors un- 
til 1832, when Thomas Berryman 
bought the shop and started the 
"Weekly Messenger" which he con- 
tinued until 1836. In this year Isaac 
Stevens commenced the "Village 
Times" which ran until 1840. Charles 
Horton bought him out and changed 
the name to the "'Ohio Valley Gaz- 
ette." Four years later he sold out 
to Waldo who again changed its 
name to the "Vevay Reveille." All 
of its editors have been high minded 
men who have kept its morals above 
those of the average newspaper. In 
1869 the "Vevay Democrat" was es- 
tablished and has been published ever 
since under the name of the "Switzer- 
land Democrat." It has a large circu- 



HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY 



13 



lation and has had a successful career. 

One of the early taverns was erect- 
ed by William T. Huff on the site now- 
occupied by the LeClerc House. One 
of the earliest blacksmith shops start- 
ed was that of T. J. Siebenthal in 1814. 
For early shoemakers we had Blaney, 
Kelly, Chaudet and Johnston. About 
1825 Charles Thiebaud came to Vevay 
and started a shoe business which, 
upon his death was continued by his 
sons. In the harness business the 
first was Joseph Malin. Others who 
followed the trade were, Miles Men- 
denhall, J. W. Cole, J. N. Malin, J. 
Kern and George Kessler & Son. 
Tanning was begun in 1815 by T. S. 
Lindley. 

The first silversmith and watch mak- 
er was William Paxton who came in 
1816-17. Later William Norisez estab- 
lished a shop here. These were not 
permanent and in 1857 Frederick 
Boerner opened a jewelry store. He 
was succeeded by Sieglitz and Roben- 
stein in 1881. 

In 1819 Dr. J. Welsh started a drug 
store. J. L. Thiebaud opened a store 
in 1847. Later Golay & Stevens start- 
ed a partnership which was later dis- 
solved and each started separate busi- 
nesses. 

In 1817 the Branch Bank of Vevay 
was organized and continued until 
1820, when owing to a fraud the bank 
and all equipment was handed over to 
J. Blackford the receiver, by J. L. Du- 
four, the President. 

The First National Bank was or- 
ganized in 1864 with a capital of 
$100,000, which was later increased to 
$150,000 and then reduced to $50,000, 
with a surplus of $20,000. 

We have been unable to find the ex- 
act date of the founders of the dry 
goods business here, but in 1840 U. P. 
Schenck Sr. ran a large store of this 
nature on the corner of Pike and Fer- 



ry streets. The taverns named above 
were the first hotels as nearly as we 
can learn, and the LeClerc House, 
which stands at the corner of Main 
and Ferry streets, was the first large 
hotel. About 1840-70 it was consid- 
ered one of the best hotels between 
Cincinnati and Louisville. 

Many historical buildings are still 
standing. On lower Main street 
stands the white brick school house 
immortalized by Edward Eggleston in 
his "Hoosier Schoolmaster" and"Hoo- 
sier School-boy." Some three blocks 
above it on the same street stands 
the house where Eggleston was born. 
The first hotel is still standing on its 
original site, but the houses erected 
by the first settlers have all been 
stricken down by time and only the 
hallowed ground on which they stood 
remains to tell the tale of the hard- 
ships of the occupants. Not until af- 
ter the close of the Civil War did the 
manufacturies of Vevay get a start. 
In 1865 the Vevay Furniture Company, 
with a capital stock of $38,000, was 
organized. The annual output was 
about $50,000. 

The year 1868 saw the establishment 
of the Vevay Woolen Mills by a Mr. 
Schofield. Capital $30,000. Annual 
product $40,000. 

A steam carriage factory began in 
1873, capital $5,000; yearly product, 
$8,000. 

A chair factory was established in 
1872 with a capital of $12,000; annual 
product $45,000. 

The Union Furniture Company was 
established in 1874, capital $40,000; an- 
nual product $53,000. 

Mayer's Cigar Factory commenced 
in 1867, capital $8,000; product $35,000. 

At the end of the year 1876, Vevay 
was a prosperous and peaceful little 
city, carrying on an extensive busi- 



14 



HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY 



ness with other places and lending 
all possible aid to enterprises which 
would bring prosperity to the com- 
munity. 



LATER HISTORY. 

After speaking of the Early History 
of Vevay, let us glance for a short 
time at the present places of religion, 
education and business. On the cor- 
ner of Main Cross and Pike streets 
stands the imposing Baptist church, 
rearing its steeple Heavenward in the 
midst of Godfearing men. It has a 
large membership and attendance and 
the Sunday School is doing excellent 
work under the leadership of Mr Wal- 
ter Cotton. The pastor. Rev. Bow- 
man, is an excellent talker and a man 
beloved by all. 

The Christian church, one square 
below on Pike street is also worthy 
of consideration. Among its mem- 
bers are some of Vevay's most promi- 
nent citizens. Although the pastor- 
ship is now vacant the outlook for a 
minister at an early date is good. 

On Main street stands the Methodist 
church. Its pastor, Rev. Asher, is 
a man liked by all people. He takes 
a lively interest in all movements per- 
taining to the welfare of his members 
and the city at large. 

At the intersection of Main and 
Market streets stands the Presbyterian 
church. The pastor, Rev. Barrett, 
is especially liked for the interest he 
takes in the young people and their 
work. Having been here but a short 
time, his reputation among the towns- 
men is an enviable one. 

Two blocks below stands the Uni- 
versalist church. The edifice is a 
model of architectural beauty. Al- 
though the membership is not large, 
it includes Vevay's best citizens. At 



present no services are held by this 
denomination, but the United Breth- 
ren, under the leadership of Rev. Todd 
hold weekly services here. Rev. 
Todd is an earnest and zealous work- 
er for the cause of religion and the 
church has at present a large and act- 
ive membership. 

On upper Ferry street stands 
the Catholic church. Its membership 
is also small, but the people are re- 
vered by all in the city. The present 
priest is Father Guerdon, of Madison. 

Now let us notice the Public School 
System. We have a common school 
building containing eight grades with 
a most efficient corps of teachers. 
Taken from one to eight, inclusive, 
they are: Misses Fannie Shadday, 
Citha Gordon, Hazel Richards, Mary 
Hall, Laura Lamson and Mr. Ernest 
Gray. The building is situated in the 
midst of a large playground equipped 
with the modern apparatus for the 
healthy amusement of the pupils. It 
has an enrollment of 205. The High 
School building stands about sixty feet 
to the northeast and has four grades. 
Mr. R. N. Tirey is at present Super- 
intendent of the schools, and he and 
the other instructors are both willing 
and able to help the students in every 
way possible. Not only is the learning 
of sums in Arithmetic, propositions in 
geometry, etc., looked carefully into 
by them, but also the proper shaping 
of the characters of those intrusted 
in their care. The assistants of Prof. 
Tirey are Miss Julia Knox, Principal; 
Miss Grace Stepleton, Miss Frances 
Culbertson, Mr. Clayton E. Tanke and 
Mrs. Loubelle Gougar. The building 
is large, well lighted, and ventilated. 
The equipment is good with an enroll- 
ment of 120. We have a High School 
of which all are justly proud. 

The schools of Vevay have about 
600 alumni, many of whom have gained 



HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY 



almost world wide reputation in their 
chosen line of work. 

Through the untiring energy of the 
school trustees, Wm. O. Protsman, 
W. D. Cotton and P. D. Pleasants, the 
coming generation is to be benefited 
by a large and spacious assembly 
hall which is being erected adjoining 
our present High School Building, and 
by a complete overhauling of the 
old school plant. We have felt the need 
of these improvements and are happy 
that we are to get them. 

Today we have six groceries, four 
dry goods stores, two clothing stores, 
four shoe shops, two drug stores, two 
confectioneries, one jewelry store, 
four hotels, three livery barns, two 
hardware stores, two furniture stores, 
three blacksmith shops, two large 
automobile garages, two meat mark- 
ets and two tin shops. These are all 
owned by wide-awake business men, 
who are courteous and accommodating 
in every respect. 

In a professional line we have five 
lawyers and seven physicians, all men 
of high ability. 

Engaged in manufacturing we have 
two flour minis, one furniture factory, 
ice plant, creamery and planing mill. 

The city boasts two weekly papers, 
the Vevay Reveille and the Switzer- 
land Democrat. The former is, and 
has been edited by Mr. W. O. Prots- 
man, a man of great energy and abili- 
ty, for twelve years. It is published 
in a building situated on Pike street 
and built in 1906. It is constructed 
along modern lines and contains ma- 
chinery for an up-to-date bindery and 
catalogue office. Some excellent work 
has been put out by the workmen here 
and we, as Vevayites, are very proud 
of this establishment. The latter 
is published by Mr. J. F. Patton, a 
man true to his principles and a friend 



of all classes. Both papers have a 
large circulation and are well patron- 
ized at home and abroad. 

The Vevay Deposit Bank has capi- 
tal of $50,000, with a $25,000 surplus 
and profits. It carries on business in 
one of the most beautiful and up-to- 
date buildings in Indiana. Mr. James 
M. Scott is President, with Mr. F. S. 
Stucy as Vice President, Mr. C. C. 
Shaw, Cashier, Mr. H. B. Shaw Asst. 
Cashier, and Misses Leila Thiebaud 
and Afra Brindley as Bookkeepers. 
It has a large business and has for 
its depositors, some of Vevay's and 
Switzerland County's best men. 

The First National Bank has a capi- 
tal of $50,000 and a surplus of $30,000. 
Mr. C. S. Tandy is President, Mr. A. 
J. Porter Cashier, and Mrs. Isolene 
K. Mills bookkeeper. It has done 
business for many years and has 
gained the confidence of all classes of 
people. 

Between Vevay and Ghent, the 
pretty little town that is situated just 
across the Ohio, runs the Ferryboat, 
"Eva Everett" owned and operated 
by the Graham brothers. It is large 
and comfortable. The owners are 
courteous and accommodating. It 
carries on a good business and is one 
of the most valuable assets to Vevay's 
material growth. 

So much for the business side of 
Vevay, now the social side. We have 
two literary clubs, the ''Julia L. Du- 
mont Club" and "Eggleston Club." 
Both have a large membership and 
are doing good work along their re- 
spective lines. 

There are many beautiful residences 
in Veva}'. The Schenck mansion on 
the hill back of Vevay is one of the 
most attractive for miles around. The 
homes of Mr. Wm. O. Protsman on 
upper Main street, Mr. A. B. Shaw, 



16 



HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND COUNTY 



Mr. W. W. Fry, Mr. Dudley Craig, 
Mr. C. S. Tandy and Mrs. Laura 
Craig on lower IMarket street, are ex- 
amples of modern architecture. 

We have been exceedingly fortunate 
in the selection of city officers. At 
present the politics of the city are 
Republican and the officers are as 
follows: A. V. Banner, Mayor; Mr. 
James M. Scott, Mr. Hugh Cole, Mr. 
Warren Sullivan, Mr. Chas. Kincaid 
and Mr. Harry Seifert, Councilmen. 
Mr. Chester Kiesel and Dr. L. H. Bear 
are City Clerk and City Treasurer, re- 
spectively. The city is blessed with 
an electric light and water plant, mu- 
nicipally owned and operated. It is 
of modern structure and one of the 
most efficient in the state. Water 
under high pressure can be had at all 
times, thus making ample fire pro- 
tection. River water is used, it being 
pumped into a large reservoir situated 
upon one of the hills back of the city. 

Such is the brief review of the his- 
tory of Vevay. We are all proud of 



our little Swiss city and what it has 
done. The fair pages of its life have 
few dark blotches of political or social 
scandal to spot it. There have 
been times when there was more busi- 
ness here, but never since its found- 
ing has it been so clean morally and 
religiously. Other towns larger and 
more populous can offer more advan- 
tages to the laborer, but remember, 
as size and population increase the 
vice and corruptions likewise increase 
unless carefully watched and held in 
check. The gift of prophecy has been 
denied the human race and conse- 
quently we cannot accurately predict 
the future of the town, but, if we were 
to venture an opinion, we should say 
"give Vevay a railroad connecting 
with one of the great systems of the 
United States and in a few years 
she will offer to the workingmen of 
all professions and trades, places to 
work, homes to live in and a place to 
rear their children free from the con- 
taminating influences of an illegally 
and corruptly managed metropolis." 





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